New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Duepetblust’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Duepetblust’, characterized by its upright, rounded and uniform plant habit; freely branching and freely flowering habit; purple and red bi-colored flowers that are positioned above and beyond the leaves; and dark green-colored leaves.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Duepetblust.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duepetblust’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to develop New Guinea Impatiens cultivars that have a uniformplant habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross made by the Inventor of aproprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number94-120-1, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with aproprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number94-208-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The cultivarDuepetblust was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Rheinberg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken inRheinberg, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duepetblust’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duepetblust’ as a new and distinct Impatienscultivar:

1. Upright, rounded and uniform plant habit.

2. Freely branching and freely flowering habit.

3. Purple and red bi-colored flowers that are positioned above andbeyond the leaves.

4. Dark green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the selection 94-120-1. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inRheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants ofthe selection 94-120-1 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens were stronger than plants of theselection 94-120-1.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker green leaves than plants ofthe selection 94-120-1.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were bi-colored whereasflowers of plants of the selection 94-120-1 were not bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the selection 94-208-1. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inRheinberg, Gernamy, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants ofthe selection 94-208-1 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of theselection 94-208-1.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker green leaves than plants ofthe selection 94-208-1.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were bi-colored whereasflowers of plants of the selection 94-208-1 were not bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens are similar to plants of the cultivarGuadeloupe, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,001, in flower color.However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany,plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivarGuadeloupe in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens were slightly taller and had longerinternodes than plants of the cultivar Guadeloupe.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely branching than plants ofthe cultivar Guadeloupe.

3. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of thecultivar Guadeloupe.

4. Plants of the new Impatiens were more freely flowering than plants ofthe cultivar Guadeloupe.

5. Flower color of plants of the new Impatiens was more intense thanflower color of plants of the cultivar Guadeloupe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Duepetblust’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Duepetblust has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany, under commercial practicein a glass-covered greenhouse, Plants were about 16 weeks from cuttingsand were grown in 12-cm containers. During the production of the plants,day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels were about4,500 lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Duepetblust.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified ascode number 94-120-1, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified ascode number 94-208-1, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 7 days at 22° C. Winter: About 10days at 22° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 18 days at 22° C.Winter: About 25 days at 22° C.

Root description.—Fine and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Upright, rounded and uniform plant growth habit;freely branching and flowering habit.

Crop time.—From unrooted cuttings, about 16 weeks are required toproduce finished flowering plants in 12-cm containers.

Plant height.—About 20 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 42 cm.

Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About ten. Length: About 17 cm.Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 6.2 cm. Color: 146B.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite or in whorls. Length: About10.7 cm. Width: About 4.1 cm. Shape: Elliptic to ovate. Apex: Acuminateto apiculate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Serrulate with ciliation. Texture:Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Young andfully expanded foliage, upper surface: 136A. Young and fully expandedfoliage, lower surface: 59A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 59A.Petiole: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color, upper andlower surfaces: 59A.

Flower description:

Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded purple and redbi-colored flowers. Freely and continuously flowering; usually aboutfive to seven flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowerspositioned above and beyond the foliage and typically face upward oroutward. Petals self-cleaning; gynoecium persistent. Flowers notfragrant.

Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in the garden,flowering from spring until fall. Plants begin flowering about six toseven weeks after planting.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid.Color: 59A.

Flower diameter.—About 6 cm.

Flower depth.—About 2 cm.

Petals.—Quantity: Five per flower, imbricate. Length: About 3.1 cm.Width: About 3.8 cm. Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Notched, lobed. Base:Acute. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture: Smooth; satiny.Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Ground color, 74C;central longitudinal stripe, 45B; ground color fading to 74D withsubsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:Ground color, 74C; central longitudinal stripe, 45A.

Spur.—Quantity: One per flower. Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: At apex:Less than 1 mm. At flower: About 2.5 mm. Aspect: Curved downward. Color:149B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 4.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength:Moderately strong, flexible. Color: 145A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity/arrangement: Five fusedat anthers, hooded; filaments free. Anther length: About 5 mm. Anthershape: Oval. Anther color: Towards base, 155B, towards apex, 61C. Pollenamount: Abundant. Pollen color: 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One perflower. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma color: 74C. Style length: Lessthan 1 mm. Style color: 59B. Ovary arrangement: Five-celled. Ovarycolor: 59A.

Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New guinea Impatiensplant named